The days finally come around, I've been waiting a long time for this day, 5 years in fact. It was May of this year was when I finally decided to put my ideas into action and booked my flights, applied to volunteer in Nepal and requested my Australian visa. That was it, no going back now, it was happening.
Of course, the goodbyes were going to be hard, there's never any good in a goodbye, plus my mother hates that word so I tend to use, see you soon or see you later but if I'm feeling really edgy I'll give a fist bump accompanied with the nod of contentment.
Morning of departure and I had to wake up the little sister to say goodbye as she's not a morning person, she gets that off the old man, so I didn't expect her to be awake at 05:30am to wave me off. That was tough, saying bye to her... hadn't felt much emotion until then, but someone told me recently that when raised by a man’s man you can't cry, man don't cry so I held it back and only shed the 1 tear, as despite being raised by a man’s man and having a lemon squeezer for a brother I'm still partial to a tear or even an alcoholic drink with an umbrella.
Airport drop off done. Now at Air India check in desk, 18kg was the weight of everything I basically own, 23 years and it's only 18kg... not sure if that’s depressing or not.
Checked in, bags tagged, security completed and I'm now officially a homeless, unemployed 23-year-old walking around Heathrow airport about to catch a flight. No parents with me now, so that basically means no rules, right? It's 7:15am and that's it I'm going to be that rule breaker, dessert for breakfast please with a large beer - who can tell me I can't do this now, ha! But no, I bottled it. That's not me, let me get a caramel macchiato, light ice, not heavy, if it’s heavy, I’m not gonna drink it. Do me a favour, put a little bit of soy in it. Not a lot, just enough for me to taste it and go - "Oh boy!" Three whips. Take that third whip to the top of the lid so I can take a sip. You got it? They didn't get it. Cappuccino with soya milk is what I got.
Seat 35G, aisle seat on a rather big plane to Delhi. I've flown before but never without a return flight, I'm now truly embracing adult hood. You grow up always relying on your parents, regardless of your age and you get so used to this you forget how hard making a real life, adult, decision actually is. You know when you're so used to your parents being there to answer for you, like when you go to the doctors, even at the age of 23, you'd instantly turn to face your mother as soon as the words "So what brings you here today, what's up?" or when you're tasked with a big decision like when you're out for dinner "Sir, would you like another drink?" Again, instantly turning to your parents to obtain approval before acting like a man and saying "Yes, I'll have another" with a smirk of self-satisfaction as you actually were able to say yes rather than your parents. That's the first step to manhood. You're probably wondering if I've ever made a decision on my own before, I have, obviously, but the first decision I was to make having actually left home became a little bit daunting. I wanted it to be a good one, wanted to make my parents proud and to reassure myself I can do this adult stuff alone. It came quicker than I thought, at breakfast on the plane when I was asked the question, "Sir, vegetarian option or a mushroom and onion omelette" which caught me off guard. Was this a trick question? Did he know I was officially a man now and was testing me? Were my parents in on this? I got nervous, started sweating profusely. I look at the middle age Indian man next to me in the hope he would come to the rescue, but no, he just greeted me with a warm smile which said "Hurry up kid, I'm starving." My mind was blank, what would my mum do?! This adult stuff was hard. "Sir??" Oh God, seconds must have turned into minutes as I pondered over this riddle. Okay, I was ready, here goes nothing. I let out a little cough which cleared my throat, sat up straight like a man and said, "I'll have the vegetarian omelette, please" a look of slight confusion came over the young man’s face, I turned to my aisle companions in hope for a congratulatory smile, nothing, just confusion also... come on though... last time I checked an omelette was vegetarian right? I'm not the idiot here am I? He handed me the tray. My first decision in this adult life completed, a sense of relief, satisfaction and celebration came over me, I'd done it. Mum would be proud.
Just landed in Delhi and 22:30 local time. with my next flight to Kathmandu not scheduled to take off until 07:50 the next day, pretty long lay over. Air India passengers catching a connecting flight to Kathmandu were greeted by an ever so helpful Indian lady who gathered everyone together and privately escorted us to where we had to be. Turns out it's not just me spending a ridiculous amount of time in the airport. It was pretty straight forward catching a connecting flight with Air India, off the plane, escorted too domestic flights section, boarding passes checked for flight the next morning and that was it we now had the next 10 hours or so to explore Delhi airport...
I tried to do the sensible thing by locating the in-airport hotel, $98.00 for the night. No thanks. However, Delhi airport do try to be helpful towards passengers who have long lay overs, they have these sleeping pods which are charged by the hour, so for $55.00 that'll earn you a massive 4 hours in these secluded pods, ha! No thanks. So, this meant that all that was left was either eating your sorrows away at the food court or crashing on the floor. I went for the latter, but it wasn't as easy as that. This airport thinks it a good idea to play loud Indian music through the ENTIRE airport, slowly turning you insane or even slightly psychotic, secretly trying to lure you into spending money on hotels or pods. Not me though, I wrapped my jumper around my head, tied it up and decided to ride it out.
Time went surprisingly fast, i hadn't yet passed out which was surprising considering my body clocks all over the place, a week ago I was in Texas couple days ago in London and now I'm in Delhi, it had no idea what was going on. Started boarding the plane and I felt tired, as I hadn't managed to get any sleep, but I now knew the words to Indians new number one song. This showed because as soon as I got my window seat I was gone, I crashed out. I slept for the whole journey, I missed take off and woke up when landing Kathmandu with one episode of consciousness in between. When the food was brought out. It's like a have a six sense for food, must be the fat kid in me. Just as he was about to pass my seat my eye opened sharply and grabbed him. Eye contact was made and wasn't broken until I got my tray. Once I finished eating within seconds I was passed out again, just like you do after a Christmas dinner when you've eaten too much.
In Kathmandu now, the anxious and apprehensive thoughts I had in Delhi when I had 10 hours to think and over think have completely disappeared which have now been replaced with excitement. That was until I reached the Visa queue. Took around an hour and a half to sign necessary documentation pay my $100.00 visa fee for 90 days and get through security and customs. Security was the most relaxed security check I've ever experienced, they guys behind the screen that was scanning the bags were not even watching but instead having a good old chin wag whilst drinking some exotic drink, most likely Chyang. Even the metal detector, I walk through and it lit up like a Christmas tree, I had my watch, necklace, ring and bracelet on. Flashing red making loud noises, I expected to be patted down, nothing. I collected my bag and continued. Slightly concerned at how easy that was.
Now was the part I wasn't looking forward to, I had put all my trust in the fact that someone from IVHQ was going to be standing outside waiting for me. What if they weren't, then what? Stranded in Nepal with no idea on where to go. The trust I put in them was worthwhile, right on cue. I walk outside and see a massive sign with the words 'Liam Welch'. I felt wanted I felt valued, I pointed at him, he nodded I nodded back. I felt a strong connection straight away, like we were homeboys already. He was there for me, he had my back. I trusted him - until I got in the car.
If you were a passenger this was your worst nightmare, it was as close to hell as you'd get. Manoeuvring through streets of rubbish, children, gaping holes, and construction work that seemed like it was never ending, it was like he was driving a bumper cart at an amusement park. Everyone was crazy as soon as they got behind a wheel, driving here calls for commando-like survival skills. You have motorcycle drivers, who squirm left and right to beat the stationary traffic. Oversubscribed mini-buses that edge up close so the drivers’ assistants can bang on cars warning that you are close to colliding with them. Yet everyone seems so calm, whereas I'm holding on for dear life my heart skipping every other beat.
Despite that episode I made it to the guest house, in one piece thankfully, where I was to spend my first night in Nepal. The program was to start tomorrow night at dinner, as between then and now 20 more volunteers are scheduled to arrive. I was the first IVHQ volunteer as I decided to come a day early to settle in before the real work begun. Raj, the guy on reception, a short Indian man with the most striking moustache took it upon himself to show me to my room. He also brought me coffee and water, made me feel right at home, just what I needed after a long day travelling.
So far so good, I can't fault IVHQ at all, brilliant communications with me so far, exactly panned out how they said it would 10 out of 10. I'm now lying in my room, 13:35 as I type up the events of my first day as an official adult. Overall, I'd class this as a success. I'm going to leave this here now and go for a wander in the streets of Nepal and try blend in and not look like a tourist despite my Casper esc skin. I’ll be here for two months so will have plenty of time to practice.
Ill look to write more about IVHQ and the projects and give a sort of review once i get more involved, so anyone who plans on using IVHQ in the future can refer to my experience and get an idea for what it was actually like.
